The Senate has triggered a fresh controversy by barring Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming her duties when the upper chamber reconvenes on September 23, despite her six-month suspension having elapsed.
The decision is contained in a letter dated September 4, written by the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, to Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The letter stated that the matter remains sub judice, and until the judicial process is concluded, no administrative action can be taken to facilitate her resumption.
“The matter remains sub judice, and until the judicial process is concluded, no administrative action can be taken to facilitate your resumption. You will be duly notified of the Senate decision on the matter as soon as it is resolved,” the letter read.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6 after the Senate adopted the report of its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, which accused her of insubordination for refusing to vacate her assigned seat during plenary.
The decision stripped her of salaries, aides, and office privileges.
The senator has consistently maintained that her suspension was politically motivated, linking it to a petition she filed accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, an allegation the Senate dismissed.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the Senate’s decision, accusing the Senate leadership of acting in bad faith. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party described the action as a calculated attempt by the APC-led Senate to stifle opposition voices and deprive the people of Kogi Central of representation.
“The attempt to use the National Assembly establishment against an elected senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in gross violation of the Constitution and the Standing Rules of the Senate is highly provocative and constitutes a clear and present danger to democracy,” the statement read.
The PDP also linked the development to what it described as Akpabio’s “history of harassment against women,” urging the Senate President to clear himself of allegations rather than “intimidating” a female colleague.
The opposition party further called on the international community, rights groups, and democratic institutions to intervene, insisting that Akpoti-Uduaghan must be allowed to resume.
Several Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) have also condemned the Senate’s decision, arguing that it is overreaching and unjustifiable. Adedayo Adedeji (SAN) argued that it was prudent and constitutionally proper for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to be allowed to resume her seat as her suspension period had elapsed. This, Adedeji said, would preserve the Senate’s dignity, show respect for its disciplinary powers, and ensure that the people of Kogi Central are not left without representation in violation of Sections 68 and 1(3) of the Constitution.
Wale Balogun (SAN) also spoke in favour of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return to the Senate, having served out her six-month suspension. Notwithstanding the pending case, Balogun argued that the Senate should respect constitutional democracy and not further deprive Natasha’s constituency of representation.
“I feel that the Senate should be magnanimous in the interest of a constitutional democracy. It’s not only about Senator Natasha. They should remember it’s about the good people of Kogi Central senatorial district, and it’s about the constitutional democracy that we practice,” Balogun said.
Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) said the Senate was overreaching itself in not allowing Akpoti-Uduaghan to resume in the Senate until the case is determined by the court. Adegboruwa argued that an indirect extension beyond the six-month suspension portrays the Senate as being vindictive and petty.
“I think the Senate is overreaching itself with this position. First, the suspension of the Senator was for six months, which was limited by time. Once the six months expire, she should be allowed to resume her seat in the Senate automatically. Failure to allow her to resume is indirectly extending the suspension beyond six months, without a valid resolution of the Senate to that effect. There is no such resolution at the moment,” Adegboruwa said.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has also condemned the Senate’s stance on Natasha’s resumption.
“The Senate President Mr Godswill Akpabio and Nigeria’s Senate must immediately allow Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to resume her legislative duties as indicated in her letter to the clerk of the National Assembly. The Senate cannot use the pending case(s) in court as a pretext to prevent Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from resuming legislative duties. This is antithetical to the fundamental notion of the rule of law,” SERAP said.
In a differing view, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) argued that the Senate and Akpoti-Uduaghan should continue to fight out the case in court. “On Natasha, the
